Float operated circuit closer



'Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,078

C. E. WElSGARVER ET AL FLOAT OPERATED CIRCUIT CLOSER Nov. 29, 1927.

C. E. WEISGARVER ET AL FLOAT OPERATED CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Dec. -30. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnoenorfeaernn CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application fil ed December 3Q, 1922. Serial No. 609,954.

This invent-ion relates to control devices which are operated hydroelectrically incombination witha 'mercury column and other elements which operate to open and close an 5 electric circuit, and the primary object of this invent-ion is to provide means for controlling theaction of hydraulic pumps such that a certain'predetermined head maybe maintained in reservoirs or similar devices wherein is stored a quantity of liquid to be drawn off according-to the requirements of the installation.

Another object otthis invention is to p ro-. vide means'forihydro-electrically controlling the pump action such that-a predetermined pressure head maintained against which the pumps operate, such action 'being entirely auto matic thus eliminating the"personal element and thereby reducing the cost of the operation.

Another object of-this invention is to provide a plurality of mercury containers, one of which is in piped relation wit h the pressure head, while another is in piped'relation with the first'and positioned above the first at such height that the weight of a column of mercury between the containers will balance the pressure head that is desired to be maintained in the reservoirs or other containers,

A further object of this invention is to provide a rugged trustworthy device of the character described, that will operate within defined limits at all times with a minimum amount of attention and maintenance cost.

WVith these and many other objects in view which will be more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully pointed out illustrated and claimed.

It will be quite readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this inven' tion belongs thatthe same is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a preferred and practical J0 embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the mercury containers positioned one above the other, the lower one being adapted to be connected to the pressure head while the upper one is in container.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. 1

I Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showin the method of connecting the pressure head with the mercury containers. 4

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the circuit closing and opening device positioned above the upper mercury container shown in Figure 1. 1

Figure 5 is a plan viewof the in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. i

Similar reference numerals refer to siinilar parts throughout the several figures of piped relationlwith t-he lower part s shown the drawings.

1n carrying out the application of this invention to an hydraulic pumping system I provide a motor driven pump desi nated in its entirety by the numeral 10. e ump 10 is provided with a suction pipe 11 and a discharge pipe 12, the suct-ion'pipe being connected to the source of supply and delivery pipe 12 to the reservoir into which water is to be delivered. I

In addition to suitablecheck valves being installed in the delivery pipe, there is novided a pipe connection 13, through w ich a quantity'of liquid delivered by the-pump 10 rises to a pressure tank 14, which is pref erably located on a level with or slightly above the upper mercury container for the purpose of preventing the mercury from being discharged into the tank when an unusual low reduction in head is made.

In installations where it is not possible to position the pressure tank 14 at a level approximately equal to or above the upper mercury container 15 (as shown in the drawings) it is desirable to run a pi e 16 above the mercury container 15 in order to form a liquid seal against the flow of men cury into the tank 14.-

In installations where quick action valves are used the introduction of the pressure tank 14 prevents severe shocks to a'ppa ratus and acts as a shock absorber between the supply line 12 and the mercuiy container 15 and as a means of further minimizing the shocks a choke fitting 17 is installed in the pipe line 13 which connects the supply line 12 to the pressure tank 14 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In addition to the. mercury containers and the piping associated therewi th the control device consists of an electric switch designated in its entirety by the numeral 13, and ionsists essentially of a 'malt'e' 'a nd break contact system which is actuated through a float 19 positioned above the su'rface 'of the mercury in the container 15. k

The float 19 is provided with a stem 20 to which, is .slidably secured apliii aiity of collars2l and 22 each' of which aremade cone shaped, the cone engaging a switch opcrating dog. orlever23 on the;underside 24 end of pin formsthe.ulc1um,qfor"tlic lever 23 as shown i n lf ignre teof the;draw'- 111%? f i'u lf -i::"11= or: 11*; 11::

he; n :26 iai ls o. .forms-.,: 1: fu lcrun1 for an inverte U shaped floating lever-:31, the trough of whichis preferably fitted with a mass otmetal; represented ,-inf this particular installation by a; block ,32; and held therein by a rivet 33, or similar means. The-primary object of this-massisto increase. the ,lnom'ent of the lever 31, the utilitypfwhich will be explained later. ,The floating lever 31 is provided -wi th a pin 34;?which-has an extension 35 positioned betweenthe rivet33 and the fulcrum p'in26. The pin 35'is adapted to be engaged-by surfacs36 and 37 cut inthe lever 23. The floating lever 31 is further provided with pins 38 and .39- each of which is adapted to engage the surface 40 of a rock'- ing lever 4:l Wl1lCll isalso fulc'rumed on pin 26. The lever 41, is provided with a bent upward, backward'and downward-portion 42 which forms a rectangle adapted to be filled with lead or some other moment increasing mass.

The lever 41 is further provided with a circuitclosing element 43; which is adapted to be rigidly secured to the lever -11 but insulated therefrom.

Referring to Figures 1 and f the drawings it will be' observed that terminal Lt which is connected to the power supply is out of contact with the terminal 45 which is connected to the motor that rotates the pump shown in Figure 3 in which case the motor is idle and the pumps have ceased to operate and the storage reservoir in this con dition is filled while the operating elements down carrying the lever 23 with it and this action will continue until the floating lever 31 is raised to a vertical position and falls in the direction of thestem 20. at which time the pin 39 will strike the surface -10 of the lever-.41 and the. circuit closing element 43 will engage the terminal 44 with such force as to drive the blade'portion down between the fingers -17 of the terminal 44, 'at which time the power current will pass through terminal 44 and out on the lead {5 to the motor thus completing the circuitto the motor at whichtime the motor will startiand the umps will operate until thepressure hea the mercury column until the collar 21 engages the surface 24-ofthe lever 25 and continues'to move upward until the floating lever 31 again occupies the position shown in Figure 4' of the drawings at whichtime the circuit will be broken and the pumps will cease to operate.

. Havingthus describedour invention what weclai'm and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is A float operated circuit closer adapted for usewith a stem -having'spaced abutments thereon, comprising asupporting frame, an actuating lever pivoted to the frame and having one end located between said abutmcnts. sa'id lever also having a notch, another levc-r fnlcrumed at one end and ha ving a weight at its other end. a lateral projection carried bythc weighted lever and adapted to he engaged by the side walls of the notch in thc first acti'iating lover, a terminal carrying lever fnlcrumcd between its; ends in the frame and having a. terminal at one end and weighted at the. other-end. pins carried by the first named \vcighted'lcver and adapted to engage the terminal carrying lever on opposite sides of it fulcrum. said levers allhaving a connnon ltllcl'llmlllg axis, and a terminal clement carried by said frame and located in the path of the terminal carrying lever.

In'testimon whereof they attix their sig' natures.

CHARLES E; WEISGARVER. .IOHX D. HARNISH.

in the reservoirs raise 

